Keeping cool in summer

[DRosedale]

We just got back from a short trip. Temperatures during the day were 98 to 100 degrees, with heat index running 110 to 112 degrees. Needless to say it was miserable and to make things worst, we couldn't get the inside of the coach under 85 degrees.

As information we have a 2011 Coachmen Concord, with one roof air. We do have sun screens over the front and side windows, which helps a lot. The other windows are tinted but not double pane.

Any suggestions on keeping the coach cooler in this type of weather? Any help would be appreciated since the DW said we aren't going again until fall or I find a way to at least keep the coach cool. Help please.

Thanks

[RV Wizard]

Add window awnings and be sure the coils are clean on the air conditioner.

[wildtoad]

Find shade, awnings, make sure you have the night shades down, if you have skylights get inside covers for them, and I open the roof vents just a bit to let the heat escape. Could you get the temp below 85 at night?

[DRosedale]

Coils are clean, night shades were down, however no shade. In the evening when the outside temperature dropped coach cooled down to 72, which is what I had set on the thermostat.

I did start the coach and ran the dash air for a few minutes and that helped, but I didn't want to run the coach very long in that heat. Has anyone tried fans?

[Senior Chief]

Has anyone tried fans?

If you are asking if fans help in hot weather, the answer is of course... Yes!

Dead air, even if moderate in temperature, doesn't do as much to cool the body as warmer air moving briskly.

You might be surprised how comfortable you can be at higher temps as long as the air is circulating adequately.

Fantastic Fan makes an excellent 12v version of a box fan called the Endless Breeze, or you can just pick up a few cheapie 115v fans at Walmart.

[Senior Chief]

Reflectix, a silver Mylar backed bubble-wrap kind of insulation is sold in rolls at the big box hardware stores. You can cut to size with scissors and tape to the inside of your windows, will reflect about 99% of the sun away from your coach.

Not a stunning look, but very effective at keeping heat out of the coach.

[dieselclacker]

I am surprised no one suggested a second A/C unit. I had one installed on our previous motorhome, which came with only one roof unit, and it made a world of difference. The coach was already pre-wired, as I believe most are, for the second unit. Total cost about seven years ago for unit and install was less than one thousand dollars. We were visiting relatives in July in Oklahoma when we had the install done. Yep, it was HOT.

Dieselclacker

[Ed-Sommers]

There are ways.

I keep me 35 footer cool with a 8000 btu window unit, being a full time boondocker. The most significant thing I do to stop the heat from entering in the first place is to put Reflectix between the sub screens and the window glass, that alone makes a world of difference it being on the OUTSIDE.

A friend that has no sun screens started putting the Reflectix on the sun side with double sided carpet tap and reported a significant cooling.

I also partisan off the rear third of my rig and use only roof fan and open windows in that section.

Ed
USN Ret

[AL]

Hi All,

I also use the bubble stuff between window and D/N shade, window awnings and fans which all help for sure! However I find the best thing is to get out of the RV in the day time and maybe do something like in the pic's,LOL!!!

Remember All: LIVE, LAUGH & ENJOY !!!!!

[StStg1]

We have the same issue with our TT in the Texas sumer heat. We use a box fan that makes a difference even though the interior temp is 85 degrees. I will try the buble wrap idea and see if that makes it better.

[Cat320]

As noted, if you have room get a second AC...and a couple of fans, they make a big difference. However, the best idea is don't go where it's that hot...head for the mountains!

[mikron]

Would the rig have enough electric for a second air to run both to help cool the coach on a lind line. With one air now coach is probably 30 amp.

[DRosedale]

Mikron, the coach is 30 amp and will not support another roof air, I already checked with Coachmen. I guess if you could rig the 2nd roof air to run off a separate 110 line and plug into a 110 camp site plug this would work. Not sure if this would work. Does anyone know?

[wildtoad]

I think the fan idea is a good one to gets some air moving. You could also look at some of the portable AC units to help during the very hot days especially if you can't find some shade. Shop De'Longhi 10000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner at Lowes.com=